LIRC mode2 could not open /dev/lirc

[endeavor j. <jen...@gm...>]

Hi All,
I have build LIRC using following options
/configure $DEBUG_OPTIONS ----without-x --with-driver=mceusb
when i tried to run mode2:
mode2: could not open /dev/lirc
mode2: default_init(): No such device
# ls -l /dev/lirc
crwxrwxrwx    1 root     0          61,   0 Jan  1  2000 /dev/lirc
#
This means that lirc is not configured proparly, I am not running LIRCD
daemon while running mode2?
Can you please help me fix this?
Thanks,
John